The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-02-09
CLARK PLERSOM, Editor.
THE CAMDEN FRAUD.

The facts in the case OF the stolen
seat in the Third Assembly district of
Camden demonstrate the fraud not only
TO moral but to legal certainty. They
can neither be eyaded nor explained
away. A partisan committee may, by a
dilatory policy, withhold them from the
House, but they cannot withhold them
from the public.
Briefly stated they are as follows:
When the returns we're made up on the
night of election, Mr.. Haines, the Re-
publican candidate, was shown to have
received ITO votes in Center township
and 165 in Waterford township. The
County Board OF Canvassers declared
him elected by forty-two majority.
Finding that the Legislature was very
close, the Albeit conspirators cast about
for ways of securing two or three extra
seats. 1t was known from recent expe-
rience that there we're expert and un-
scrupulous ballot-box manipulators in
Camden county. They thought it a
brilliant stroke of policy also to carry
on their nefarious work right under the
very shadow Of Senator Sewell's home.
Here were the tools, and here was the
last place in New Jersey where suspicion
of suoh daring rascality would attach.
So demand was made for recount in
the townships of Centre and Waterford.
A rumor somehow got abroad that crook
ed work was to be attempted and strict
watch was kept on all suspicious places
in the city of Camden and especially
Gloucester City, where the crookedness
occurred before. But the Republicans
were watching the wrong hole. The DEM
ocratic rats were doing their work in an
other burrow. The whisper went out
among the knowing ones'' thai the re-
count wonld certainly show Turley to be
elected. So they were all on hand jubi-
liant, confident, and in great force. As
the recount proceeded it was noticed that
the Democratic managers displayed but
little interest until Center and Water
ford townships were reached. Then they
instantly woke up and exchanged furtive
looks Of exnltant confidence. Their con-
fidence was justified by the result. Mr..
Haines' vote was reduced from ITO to 1859
In Center township, and from 1875 to 1856
in Waterford, Mr.. Turkeys vote being
correspondingly increased 10 each.
Justice Parker could, ander the law, do
nothing else than order a certificate to be
made out In Turkeys favor. The steal
was contaminated.
But Mr.. Haines and his friends did not
propose tamely to submit to what they
believed to be deliberate fraud. SO they
took testimony. The election officers Of
both townhips were summoned, and they
testified, under oath and with great posi-
tiveness, that the original count was cor
rect. Outside parties who watched the
count and kept tally for themselves de-
clared that it was undoubtedly correct -
The election officers in Center township.
comprised two Democrats and two Re-
pnblicans. The ballot-box was in the
legal custody Of the Democratic Town
ship Clerk from the time the polls closed.
The three keys were held, one each by
the Judge and two Inspectors.
The election officers in Waterford town
ship consisted of three Democrats and
one Republican. The ballot-box of this
township was In the legal custody of the
Democratic Township Clerk. He was
also, inadvertently perhaps, but certainly
illegally, given charge Of al. three of the
keys.
The Republicans then summoned the
voters whom they had reason to believe
votedlfor Mr.. Haines,!t TO testify. And one
hundred and seventy came forward from
Center township, and one hundred and
sixty-five'from Waterford, who swore that
they voted for Haines, Asss corroborating
to cote aboriginal cosInt An effort was
made to break down the testimony, butt
totally failed.
The moral evidence of the fraud was
now complete, but the overt act had not
yet been proven. The testimony OF Cham
bley, the Philadelphia locksmith, who
opened the Center township box for the
conspirators, completed and clinched the
case.
Can any sane man doubt the crushing
and irresistible logic of these facts and
circumstances ? Can anybody but scoun.
drel lend his aid to the contamination of
this yjllaipy